Closure means



Aug. 10, 1965 H. K. BROSS mwm CLOSURE MEANS Filed p 5, 1962 I4 26 25 I 4 I 27 24 I ["1 E N 23 23 /W 3+8 I }$2 F|G.2

H l )1 I I0 T r '8 r INVENTOR. FIG-5 HELMUT KARL BROSS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,193,748 CLGSURE MEANS Helmet Karl Brass, Aitenherg uber Numberg, Germany, assigns: of fifty percent to Frank T. .iohmann, Berkeiey Heights, NJ.

Filed Sept. 5, 1962, er. No. 221,598

Qiaims priority, application Germany, Get. 7, 1961,

Qlmrns. (Cl, 222-517) This invention relates to pour-out closure means, that it, a dispenser, for containers. Particularly, the invention relates to an inexpensive pour-out closure means which includes a closing plug disposed at the end of a pivotally mounted see-saw lever whereby the opening and closing of the discharge opening by said plug can be effected in a convenient and efficient manner by actuation of said lever.

A closure means comprising a plug mounted on a pivoted actuating lever is known and is described in French Patent No. 790,093 published on November 12, 1935. This prior device is relatively expensive since it is composed of a number of separate parts, several of which are metal, which parts are assembled together. On the other hand, the closure means of the present invention can be readily molded of plastic as a single unitary piece. Because of this, the closure means of the present invention can be inexpensively produced and requires no assembly costs, so that it can be used for large volume, low-cost containers. This economic advantage of the present invention is very important since most containers are used only once. Thus, for many uses, the closure means to be commercially acceptable has to be sufficiently inexpensive so that it can be thrown away with the container when the container becomes empty. Because of its ease of opening and closing, the closure means of the invention is particularly useful with containers that are frequently opened and closed. A good example of the above, are containers for hairtonics, shampoos, honey, cleaning fluids, liquid detergents, liquid starch, etc. In these cases, the total cost of the packaged material is low, the container is discarded when empty, and the contents of the container are generally used in small quantities so that the container is opened and closed many times before its contents are exhausted. For conditions such as these, the closure means of the invention are particularly suited because of their low cost and ease of operation. Furthermore, the closure means of the invention can provide a good tight seal, which is particularly important in the case of volatile fluids which easily evaporate, e.g., toilet preparations containing alcohol.

The closure means, or dispenser, of the invention can also permit opening and closing by a one hand operation. Furthermore, the plug of the present closure means is an integral part of the closure means and thus is always in position for use and can not become separated and misplaced when the closure means is opened. Also, said plug is not likely to become soiled since it will not be laid down upon a table or counter when the closure means is opened for pouring.

The above, and other aspects and advantages of the present invention will be further understood by reference to the following description and drawings which include a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

3,199,748 Patented Aug. 10, 1965 FIGURE 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a container having the closure means of the invention.

FIGURE 2, is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3, is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4, is a side view, partly in section of a modification of the closure means of FIGURES 1 to 3 in a sealed condition before use.

FIGURE 5, is a side view, partly in section, of the modification of FIGURE 4 in a closed portion after its seal has been broken.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 3, the container 10 is formed with an annular opening defined by the annular bead 11. The bead 11 seats in the complementary annular groove 12 of the closure means to thereby give a press fit so as to tightly hold said closure means to said container. The annular flange 13 limits the downward movement of the closure means when it is being forced into the container. The tubular body, or discharge member 14, is closed at its upper end by the integral lid 15. This lid 15 is cut off along line 16 when the closure means is initially opened by guiding a knife between the annular flange 17 and the pouring spout 18. Disposed a short distance above the lid 15 is the plug 19, whose lower cylindrical portion 20 is frictionally insertable into the discharge opening formed in the upper end of tubular portion 14 after the lid 15 is cut off, to thereby seal said discharge opening. The plug 19 has the blind bore 21 extending downwardly partly into low plug portion 20, so that portion 29 is a thin-wall section. In this manner, the portion 20 is made more elastic so that it can be slightly compressed when forced into said discharge opening to give a frictional fit. Also, the bottom annular edge of portion 20 is preferaoly rounded so as to more easily enter said discharge opening. The plug 19 is integral with the actuating lever 22. Extending downwardly from the intermediate portion of said lever 22, is the arcuate supporting arm 23 whose lower end is integrally connected with discharge member 14 through the annular flange 13. A stiffening rib 24 extends between the main body 14 and the lower inner side of said arm 23. Another stiffening rib 25 extends between the plug 19, the lower inner side of lever 22, and the upper inner side of arm 23. A third bracing rib 26 extends between the outer lower side of lever arm 22 and the upper outer side of arm 23. A point 27, located on arm 23 between the three bracing ribs 24, 25, and 26, is thus unbraced and serves as a pivot point about which the lever 22 pivots.

In operation, the lid 15 is cut off by the consumer with a knife, as previously indicated, whereupon a portion of the liquid contents can be poured from container 11) by merely tipping said container 10 so that the liquid 29 is directed through the discharge member 14 and down the trough-like pouring spout 18. After pouring of part of the liquid, the remainder of the liquid can be kept in a fresh condition by sealing the container. This is done by simply pressing down on the plug 19 in the direction of the arrow X so as to force the lower part 26 of said plug downward into frictional engagement with the body portion 1- This downward movement of plug 19 is possible due to a slight pivoting of the lever arm 22 and plug 19 about the pivot point 27.

To open the plugged container, downwardly directed pressure is extended on the outer portion of the lever arm 22 in the direction of the arrow Y. This pressure causes arcane the arm 22 to pivot about point 27, to thereby raise the plug 19 from within the discharge opening defined by member 14, whereby the lever arm 22 and plug 19 will return to their normal unstressed position of FIGURE 1. It is thus seen that the closure means can be readily closed or opened by finger pressure exerted in the direction of arrows X and Y, respectively.

Another embodiment of the invention is represented by FIGURES 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the lower part 20' of the plug 19 is molded integrally with the lidless tubular discharge member 14, the connecting being effected by the thin-wall portion 30. This thin-wall portion 3t"; can be later cut through, e.g. with a knife. Alternatively, the portions 20' and 14' can be separated by exerting sufficient downward pressure 19 so as to cause the thin-walled portion 30 to shear. After separation, the closure is opened for pouring by depression of lever 22 by the appiication of pressure in direction of arrow Y to said lever. Upon release of said pressure, the closure will automatically return to .a closed, or nearly-closed, position where the lower plug portion 20' is adjacent the upper end of discharge portion 14. To tightly seal the closure means, the plug 19' is pushed downwardly in the direction of arrow X so that the plugs lower portion 26' enters into the tubular portion 14 and annular .shoulder 31 seats atop the annular rim 32. The closure means will then assume the closed position of FIGURE 5. This closed position is maintained by frictional engagement of the lower portion 20' of the plug 19', with the upper inner wall of discharge member 14'. However, this frictional engagement can be overcome by again depressing lever 22' in the direction of arrow Y so that the plug 19 is raised upwardly from said frictional engagement by the lever arm 22 pivoting about pivot point 27'. It will also be apparent, that by further depression of lever 22 that the plug 19' can be raised a considerable distance from the upper end of the discharge tube 14 so as to increase the clearance between the annular rim 32 and the bottom of plug 19. In fact, by controlling the finger pressure on 22', the amount of said clearance can be readily controlled and concurrently, the rate of fluid ilow through the discharge opening can be controlled.

In sum, the present invention provides simple, economical closure means which can be made as a one-piece integral molding of plastic such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyvinyl, molding resins. Polypropylene is particularly preferred because of its strength, resiliency and the ability to withstand repeated flexing without breaking or tearing. Other suitable plastics, can of course, be used.

I claim:

1. An integral one-piece molded plastic dispenser comprising a discharge member having an upper end defining a sealed discharge opening which is unsealed by the consumer, a plug molded completely outside of said discharge opening but frictionally insertable within said discharge opening after said opening is unsealed by said consumer to thereby close said opening, a substantially rigid lever arm extending outwardly from said plug, and a connecting member connecting said discharge member and said lever arm at a point on said lever arm between the ends of said lever arm to thereby divide said lever arm into an inner portion carrying said plug and an outer portion, said connecting member pivotally supporting said lever arm for. see-saw movement about a pivot point at a substantial lateral distance from said discharge member, whereby said inner portion'and said plug can be pressed downwardly to pivot said lever arm and insert said plug into the unsealed discharge opening to close said opening, and whereby the outer portion of said lever arm can be pressed downwardly to pivot said lever arm in the opposite direction and withdraw said plug from said opening.

2. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said plastie is polypropylene.

3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said plastic is polyethylene.

4. A dispenser according to claim 1, in combination with a container connected to said discharge member.

5. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member is an arcuate arm which is braced by ribs extending from said plug and said discharge member to said lever arm, wherein said plug is formed with a flange engageable with the unsealed discharge member to limit the extent said plug is insertable into said discharge opening, and wherein said plug has a thin-wall section capable of being elastically deformed when frictionally inserted within said discharge opening to thereby give a liquidtight closing of said discharge opening.

6. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said sealed discharge opening is obtained by molding said discharge member and said plug integrall and wherein said plug is severable from said discharge member to thereby unseal said discharge opening.

7. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said discharge opening is molded sealed by a lid portion integral with said discharge member, which lid portion is cut off and removed by said consumer to unseal said discharge opening.

8. A dispenser according to claim 7, wherein said dispenser includes a pouring spout extending outwardly from said discharge member proximate said lid portion whereby said spout can serve as a guide for a knife in severing said lid portion.

9. A sealed container of fluid including a one-piece dispenser integrally molded of slightly resilient plastic comprising a tubular discharge member having a lower end extending into said container and an upper end, a severable lid integral with the upper end of said discharge member, said lid defining an annular flange, a pouring spout extending transversely of said discharge member and proximate said annular flange-to thereby define a cutting plane between said spout and said lid whereby said lid can be severed by passing a knife by the consumer through said cutting plane to thereby unseal said discharge member, an arcuate supporting arm extending upwardly and outwardly from said discharge member proximate the lower end of said discharge member, a substantially rigid actuating lever connected between its ends to the upper end of said supporting arm whereby said lever arm is divided into an inner portion and an outer portion, a plug carried by said inner portion of said actuating lever substantially above said lid, and strengthening ribs extending between: (a) said discharge member and said supporting arm, (b) said plug, said actuating lever and said supporting arm, and (c) said lever and said supporting arm, to thereby define an unstrengthened point on said supporting arm at a substantial lateral distance from said discharge member and between the upper end of said discharge member after said lid has been severed and the bottom of said plug, said unstrengthened point of said supporting arm being bendable and capable of serving as a pivot point whereby said lever can be pivoted in a see-saw fashion, whereby said plug and said inner portion can be pivoted downwardly to insert said plug into frictional engagement within said discharge member after severing and removing said lid, and whereby subsequently said outer portion of said lever can be pivoted downwardly to raise said plug out of said frictional engagement and out of said discharge member.

19. A sealed container according to claim 9, wherein said tubular discharge member further includes an annular flange in sealing abutment with said container and integral with said supporting arm, said tubular discharge member further defining an annular groove, and said container defining an annular flange in a force fit with said annular groove to thereby fix said dispenser to said containern (References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Eulberg 222541 Wolfe 222556 X 5 Gunn 222490 Zurlinden.

Tupper 222546 X Dresden et a1 222--541 Platt 222541 6 Heinle 222546 Deussen 222541 Burt 222--490 X Taylor 222541X Tupper 222556 X Martorelli 222545 X Goldstein 222-546 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. AN INTEGRAL ONE-PIECE MOLDED PLASTIC DISPENSER COM-PRISING A DISCHARGE MEMBER HAVING AN UPPER END DEFINING A SEALED DISCHARGE OPENING WHICH IS UNSEALED BY THE CON-SUMER, A PLUG MOLDED COMPLETELY OUTSIDE OF SAID DIS-CHARGE OPENING BUT FRICTIONALLY INSERTABLE WITHIN SAID DISCHARGE OPENING AFTER SAID OPENING IS UNSEALED BY SAID CONSUMER TO THEREBY CLOSE SAID OPENING, A SUBSTANTIALLY RIGID LEVER ARM EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID PLUG, AND A CONNECTING MEMBER CONNECTING SAID DISCHARGE MEMBER AND SAID LEVER ARM AT A POINT ON SAID LEVER ARM BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID LEVER ARM TO THEREBY DIVIDE SAID LEVER ARM INTO AN INNER PORTION CARRYING SAID PLUG AND AN OUTER PORTION, SAID CONNECTING MEMBER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID LEVER ARM FOR SEE-SAW MOVEMENT ABOUT A PIVOT POINT AT A SUBSTANTIAL LATERAL DISTANCE FROM SAID DISCHARGE MEMBER, WHEREBY SAID INNER PORTION AND SAID PLUG CAN BE PRESSED DOWNWARDLY TO PIVOT SAID LEVER ARM AND INSERT SAID PLUG INTO THE UNSEALED DISCHARGE OPENING TO CLOSE SAID OPENING, AND WHEREBY THE OUTER PORTION OF SAID LEVER ARM CAN BE PRESSED DOWNWARDLY TO POVOTA SAID LEVER ARM IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND WITHDRAW SAID PLUG FROM SAID OPENING. 